Suspended article hanger and organizer

ABSTRACT

An article suspension apparatus with a specialized clamp capable of firmly affixing a hanger apparatus to an overhead surface. The clamping ends are cushioned to prevent damage to the mounting surface. The apparatus has a rippled article separator or in various embodiments the article separator is crimped or defined by apertures. The body of the article separator may be rotatable relative to the clamp and mounting surface. The clamp is maintained on the mounting surface through spring biasing, or alternatively, through wheel lock, push lock, slide lock, or spring lock mechanisms.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), to U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/711,282, filed Aug. 24, 2005, entitled“GENERAL CONSUMER ASSISTANT APPARATUS” which is incorporated byreference into this application as if fully set forth herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for hanging and suspendinggarments, equipment, devices, or other articles. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to a portable, reversibly mountable overheadhanger.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Numerous devices for hanging articles, clothing, apparatus, and thelike, are described in the prior art. The best known device, aconventional hanger, utilizes a simple hook formed to hang from a closetrod. The base of a rudimentary hanger is widened to provide a surfacesuitable for suspending articles. While these conventional hangers workwell in a closet, suspended from a conventional closet rod, they are illsuited for suspending articles on other structures.

Frequently, during the process of ironing garments, a user will placethe pressed garments on a hanger, and then suspend the hangers from theheader portion of the door molding, or from the top of the door itself.Hangers suspended from a structure other than a horizontal,cylindrically shaped closet rod, with a diameter less than the hook'sminimal width, tend to fall. Indeed, it may be difficult to locate anindividual who hasn't experienced the frustration of attempting tosuspend a garmented hanger from a doorframe. Even if one is able tocarefully place the hanger on the frame, the slightest rotationalmovement of the hanger will cause the hook to slip from the frame andthe garment and hanger onto the floor. Even if the hanger does not fall,any pitching of the hanger, relative to the floor, will cause thegarment to slip from the hanger. Further, placing a hanger on a doorframe can scratch or gouge the molding. Additionally, while aconventional hanger is ideal for certain types of garments (e.g.button-down shirts) it is imperfect where weight is not evenlydistributed on the horizontal portion of the hanger. The unequaldistribution of weight results in hanger pitching, may cause articles tofall, and frequently causes articles to be bunched closely togetherallowing new wrinkles to form. As a matter of practical convenience,users will seek to suspend hangers almost anywhere, to avoid the tediumof walking back and forth to the closet to hang up each freshly ironedarticle.

One alternative to the above has been to utilize a freestanding garmentrack. For example, Huang, U.S. Pat. No. 6,568,546, teaches afreestanding hanger device having a plurality of hanger rods rotatablymounted to a support rod thereof. Such racks require assembly, areexpensive, cumbersome, and difficult to store. Other alternatives hangfrom or fit on the door itself. For example, DeBruyn, U.S. Pat. No.6,267,257, teaches a door mounted hanging device including a doorsupport adapted for coupling with a top edge of a door. Emery, et al.U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,902, teaches an over-the-door shelf organizer whichis mounted on the door. These devices frequently require mechanicalaffixation to the door and will often mar the door's surface,particularly over time. Other prior art devices utilize the door'shinges. For example, Milbuorne, U.S. Pat. No. 3,175,696 teaches a rackmounted behind a door utilizing the door's hinge structure. Lowe, U.S.Pat. No. 6,722,511, teaches a mountable hanger apparatus for affixingpreferably to door hinges. These prior art devices, which depend uponpermanent or semi-permanent affixation to the door or frame or hinges,require of time and effort to install, are difficult to relocate, andare not suitable for travel.

The present invention is not limited to articles of clothing. Finding asuitable location to temporarily suspend parts or cords around the shopor in the garage has always been problematic. Current article suspensiondevices employ hooks, brackets, or other support means which must bepermanently or semi-permanently affixed to a supporting beam orstructure. This requires installation of the suspending apparatus andprecludes easy relocation. For example, Roberts, U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,626teaches a hanging storage shelf system suspended from a garage ceilingjoist. Webb, U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,783 teaches a utility hook adapted tofit upon a standard overhead garage door track to suspend bulky itemstherefrom. These systems are designed to be immobile; therefore, utilityis limited to the location where the device is installed. Accordingly,these racks lack versatility and do not permit rapid relocation of thesuspending means when desirable.

Other solutions require mounting a rack on a wall or door. Obviouslythis also limits use of the rack to locations adjacent to the wall.Graefe, U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,581 teaches a portable bicycle repair rackwhich adjustably supports a bicycle for the maintenance or repairthereof, using a common door as a vertical support member. Further, likethe fixed overhead systems, the rack must be installed and is notreadily portable. Additionally, in some instances, no true utilizablevertical surface is nearby. Where the rack or hanger suspendingapparatus is mounted on a less-than-vertical surface, the article willbe at an angle to the user. This is often inconvenient and leads toundesirable results, for instance, when painting an article.

Lastly, working on suspended articles raises special concerns. Forexample when articles are suspended for purposes of cleaning orpainting, the user will require access to all areas of the article.Moreover, during activities such as painting and cleaning, the user willoften wish to move the article to a different location and perhaps evenoutdoors.

Accordingly, a need exists for an article suspending device that ismountable in an overhead position, such as a conventional surface (e.g.a doorframe) or other overhead structure, that will not damage themounting surface, is quick and easy to set up and take down, and willpermit an unbalanced load to be suspended without dislodging the hangerfrom the mounted surface. Further, what is needed is a hanger that isrotatable about its central axis, and thereby allows access to all areasof the article. What is also needed is a device which is small,portable, lightweight, and collapsible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to solve theabove described drawbacks associated with using prior art devices forsuspending garments and articles in the home, in the garage, around theworkshop, and other locations.

Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide an overheadarticle hanger that is inexpensive to manufacture. A further object ofthe invention is to provide a hanger which may be quickly and easilyreleasably clamped to an overhead structure where the clamp is made ofor covered with a material designed to prevent damage to the doorwaymolding or other clamping surface. A further object of the presentinvention is to provide a hanger with a sufficiently wide stance toprevent dislodging from the clamping surface where an unbalanced weightis suspended. A further object of the invention is to provide a hangerthat is small, compact, and lightweight and ideal for both home andtravel uses. A further object of the invention is to provide hanger thatevenly separates articles and prevents article bunching which tends tocause wrinkles in clothing and other articles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric elevation view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the present invention with clampingends distracted;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, front elevation view showing the biasing andhinge;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view showing the present invention suspendedin an exemplar location;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 showingthe present invention placed on the cut-away of the header portion ofthe door frame;

FIG. 7 is an isometric elevation view of an alternative embodimentillustrating a single hinge and single clamp handle;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of an alternative embodiment with thehanger body rotated 90-degrees from the frontal position showing acrimped tubular article support section;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of an alternative embodiment with thehanger body rotated 90-degrees from the frontal position showing anarticle support section with a plurality of suspending apertures;

FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of an alternative embodimentillustrating the tubular spring lock;

FIG. 11 is a front elevation view of two independent alternativeembodiments illustrating a wheel lock 54 and a thumb wheel 56;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged side elevation view of an alternative embodimentillustrating a slide lock;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged front elevation view of an alternative embodimentillustrating a slide lock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIEMENT AND ALTERNATIVEEMBODIMENTS

The following description is presented to enable any person skilled inthe art to make and use the invention, and is provided in the context ofparticular applications and their requirements. Various modifications tothe preferred embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied toother embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended tobe limited to the embodiment shown, but is to be accorded the widestscope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention involves an article suspensionapparatus including a hanger body, 10, the article supporting surface ofhanger body 10, being a transverse member functioning as an articleseparator 12, which, in one preferred embodiment, is rippled. In analternative embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the article separator12 is crimped in at least one location 65. In yet another embodiment, asillustrated in FIG. 9, the article separator 12 is integrally formed ofplastic or metal shaped to define a plurality of apertures 75, or may beformed by coupling a similarly shaped strip 70 made of plastic, metal,wood, or other suitable material to the article separator 12. In anotherembodiment, the article separator 12 is substantially straight.Referring again to FIG. 1, from article separator 12, the hanger body 10is shaped inwardly to define a side support 16, which is bent to asubstantially horizontal position at bend 18. Immediately following bend18, on each side, the rod bends to a horizontal upper hanger bodysection 13 which is substantially parallel with article separator 12.Upper hanger body section 13 passes through fittings 48. Referring nowto FIG. 4, a biasing means, such as spring 44, is coiled around upperhanger body section 13 the spring's terminal ends 45 making contact withthe proximate portion of clamping handles 36B, 38B. Fitting 48 iscylindrically shaped and oriented horizontally relative to its longaxis. Fitting 48 is coupled to a vertically oriented cylindricallyshaped fitting 46. Fittings 46 and 48 may be one integral metal orplastic unit or two fused cylinders. In a preferred embodiment, fittings46 and 48 are formed of a flat portion of steel cut and shaped to definetwo connected cylinders. Alternatively two substantially cylindricalelements are coupled and may, for example, be soldered or weldedtogether.

Referring again to FIG. 1, a first clamping member, in a preferredembodiment, the outer clamping member 38A is coupled to the hanger body10 by fitting 48. The shape of the clamping members may be varied suchthat the clamping members are curved or formed in any shape notinterfering with the ability to securely fasten the hanger. In apreferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the outer clamp handle, 38B,and inner clamp handle 36B are angled at bend 30 such that the handlesflare in a frontward/backward direction and thereafter at bend 32 andare substantially horizontal. Clamp handles 36B, 38B insert intofittings 46 which are coupled to fitting 48 as described above. In onepreferred embodiment, illustrated by FIG. 3, from fittings 46, the outerclamping member 38A and inner clamping member 36A bend at 28 and extendhorizontally 34 and form a 90-degree angle at bend 26, and thereafterbend at 24. Thereafter, as best illustrated by FIG. 1, the rod bendsinwardly at bend 22 to form horizontal mounting sections 20 which, in apreferred embodiment, are outfitted with a cushion 40, fitted overhorizontal mounting section 20 of inner clamping member 36A, and cushion41 fitted over horizontal mounting section 20 of outer clamping member38A. Cushions 40 and 41 fit like a sleeve over horizontal mountingsections 20 and make contact with the mounting surface and preventsurface damage; they may be comprised of any soft material including butnot limited to sponge, foam, cloth, rubber, soft plastic, and the like.In an alternative embodiment cushions 40 and 41 are omitted and theterminal end of clamping members, horizontal mounting sections 20, arethemselves constructed of a material of lesser hardness relative to theclamping surface under force of said bias.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an inner clamping member 36A and outer clampingmember 38A rotate outwardly about an axis central to hinge fittings 48to open clamp members 36A, 38A when sufficient force is applied toclamping handles 36B, 38B, and close clamp members 36A, 38A when saidforce is withdrawn and spring 44 biases the terminal ends to asubstantially closed position. FIG. 2 illustrates the inner clampingmember 36A and outer clamping member 38A as viewed from the front. In analternative embodiment, a first and second clamping member are of thesame dimensions and directly superimposable when viewed from the front.Referring again to FIG. 2, in one embodiment, one or more verticalstructural reinforcement support 19, is/are coupled from the upper bodysection 13 to the article separator 12 to provide the hanger body withadditional strength and stability.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the present invention may be mounted on aconventional door frame. FIG. 6, depicts a cross-sectional view of thedoor frame taken through 6-6 of FIG. 5, illustrating the clampingmembers 38A, 36A, mounted over the horizontal portion of the door framewith the protective sleeves 41 and 40 in place respectively.

Referring again to FIG. 4, in an alternative embodiment, clampinghandles 36B, 38B are omitted and the inner clamping member 36A and outerclamping member 38A are opened by the user's manual distraction of theclamping members. Where clamping handles 36B, 38B are omitted, theterminal ends of spring 45 may be located immediately after, or coupledto fitting 46, or in any substantially similar location adequate to biasterminal ends of clamping members 36A, 38A together.

In an alternative embodiment, the entire structure, including but notlimited to hanger body 10, the clamping members, 36A, 38A, the upperbody section 13, all fittings, and if included, clamp handles 36B, 38B,are comprised of plastic or other suitable material. The only necessaryrequirement for such materials is that they do not break when articlesare placed on the mounted hanger.

It should be noted that the abovementioned embodiment with metalcylindrical soldered fittings hinges 44, 46 and metal piping is merelyone preferred embodiment. The present invention may be practiced throughutilizing any materials including but not limited to plastic, wood, anddurable rubber. In a specific alternative embodiment, all structures areplastic formed by injection molding or other suitable method.

In an alternative embodiment illustrated by FIG. 7, clamping member 38Ais affixed to hanger body 10 and centered relative to the upper bodysection 13. Clamp handle 36B has been modified to a single side to allowit to open and close at fitting 46 which functions as a singular hinge.Spring 44 may be positioned in any location providing adequate bias, forexample around fitting 48 or upper body section 13 with one terminal endmaking contact with fitting 46 or handle 36B, and the other withvertical reinforcement support 19. Protective sleeve 40 is mounted onthe horizontal mounting section 20 of clamp member 36A. From fitting 48,the clamp member is angled outwardly and of sufficient length to permitadequate lever-arm leverage to facilitate opening the clamp sufficientlyto secure on a door molding or other suitable structure. The upper bodysection 13, serves as the mounting support for a inner clamping member36A and a second clamp 38 coupled by rotatable hinge formed where thehanger body 10 is disposed within fitting and connected to the upperbody section 13 disposed in the other

In one alternative embodiment, FIG. 7, illustrates the outer clampingmember 38A attached to the hanger body 10, centered along the upper bodysection 13. A single clamp handle 36B is bent outwardly, sufficient forthe outer 38A and inner clamping members 36A to clamp onto a standarddoor molding. The upper body section 13 is disposed within a singularfitting 48 forming a hinge rotatable about an axis central to upper bodysection 13. Protective sleeve 40 covers the terminal end of clampingmember 36A and opposes protective sleeve 41 the fixed outer clampingmember 38A. The outer clamping member 38A and inner clamping member 36Bare held firmly on a door frame or other clamping surface through aforce sufficient to maintain a snug fit on the clamping surface whenarticles are suspended, said force may be generated through use oflever, ratchet, spring or slide lock. For example, a mechanical springplaced before fitting 46 may be coiled around upper body section 13 andpositioned against a portion of reinforcement support 19 to provide aspring bias adequate to keep clamp mounted above a standard door framewhen articles are suspended.

Two additional, mutually independent alternative embodiments areillustrated by FIG. 8. In the first alternative embodiment, articleseparator 12, formed of tubular, plastic, metal, wood, or other materialis crimped, in at least one location, to form the surface of the articleseparator 12. Said crimping may be accomplished with any tool sufficientto provide permanent deformation of the article separator. The sidesupport 16 is lengthened and angled more sharply. At least onereinforcement support 19 attaches side support 16 to article separator12. The second alternative embodiment, fittings 46, 48 and spring 44 aredisposed within a vertically positioned cylindrical fitting defining aneyelet 60. Side supports 16 are coupled to eyelet 60. Eyelet is coupledto the hanger body 10 wherein a portion of said clamp and portion ofsaid handles pass through said eyelet 60 with the eyelet 60 and hangerbody 10 being rotatable about an axis central to the long axis of eyelet60 said rotation relative to outer 38A and inner 36A clamping members.The eyelet is of sufficient diameter to distract the terminal ends ofclamping members 36A, 38A, and the clamp to open when inward force isapplied to clamp handles 36B, 38B and they are brought inwardlytogether. In an alternative, the clamp handles 36B, 38B may be omitted.The tubing extending downwardly from fitting 46 need only be long enoughto accommodate the terminal portion of spring 45. In this embodiment,the hinge is completely enclosed within the eyelet, and the clamp isopened through the user's manual distraction of clamp members 36A, 38A.

In another alternative embodiment illustrated by FIG. 9, articleseparator 12 is shaped to define at least one aperture, and preferably aplurality of apertures. Article separator 12 may be integrally formed ofplastic, metal, wood, or other material shaped to define a plurality ofapertures, or may be formed by coupling a strip made of plastic, metal,wood, or other suitable material to the article separator 12. Theapertures may be evenly spaced.

In an alternative embodiment, the spring is omitted and a alternatemeans exerts sufficient clamping force to maintain the terminal ends ofclamping members 36A, 38A, in firm contact with the clamping surface,and permit the hanger to remain secure, when articles are suspended. Itshould be noted that various methods may provide the force necessary tooppose the terminal ends of the clamping members, and, for example,releasable slide locks, wheel locks, spring locks, ratchet locks,tension locks, may be used. For example, FIG. 10, illustrates one suchexemplar alternative: a spring-loaded locking device. The spring lock iscomprised of a tube 50 with a spring 51 disposed therein, said tubemounted along the upper body section 13. The spring exerts outward biasagainst two cylindrical fittings 52 mounted at either end of the tube,the terminal ends of tube 50 being disposed within the cylindricalfittings 52. The outermost ends of fittings 52 are shaped to definenotches through which pass that portion of the outer clamping member 38Aand inner clamping member 36A that extends horizontally 34. To lock theclamp, fittings 52 are pushed inwardly, facilitated through use ofmounted finger holds 53, such inward force opposing spring bias, theclamp is fastened to the clamping surface, and when force on fittings 52is released, the notches are biased outward to engage horizontal portion34 of clamping members 36A, 38A. To secure the hanger, one fitting 52engages inner member 36A one the outer member 38A. To releases theclamp, inwardly directed force overcomes said bias disengaging clampingmembers 38A and 36A from the notch.

In another alternative embodiment, FIG. 11 illustrates a wheel lock 54that may be utilized to keep the hanger clamped firmly on the mountingsurface. Wheel lock 54 is depicted where the outer clamping member 38Ais coupled to hanger body 10 in a manner similar to the outer clampingmember depicted on FIG. 7. The wheel lock 54 is rotatably mounted onreinforcement support 19. After the clamping members 36A, 38A are inplace on the clamping surface, the operator, using a thumb or finger,pushes the lock to rotate outwardly wherein the horizontal section 34 ofinner clamping member 36A engages concave channel 55 defined withinwheel lock 54. One lock will engage the horizontal portion 34 of theinner clamping member 36A, a second lock, mounted on the remainingreinforcement support, will engage the horizontal portion 34 of theouter clamping member 38A, both rotating outwardly to lock and inwardlyto unlock.

FIG. 11 demonstrates yet another alternative lock that utilizes a thumbwheel type device 56 defined by an aperture through which upper bodysection 13 passes, and where said thumb wheel is slidably mounted alongthe long axis of upper body section 13. The lock makes contact with aspring 57, the spring, mounted along the same plane, exerting outwardbias. The surface of device 56 has a raised surface 58 which engages thehorizontal section 34 of the clamping members 36A, 38A. In the restingposition, spring 57 exerts bias against device 56, the raised surface 58of which maintains the clamp in the closed position by making contactwith the horizontal portion 34 of clamping members 36A, 38A wherebyoutward rotation of clamping members 36A, 38A is prevented.

Another alternative lock, illustrated by FIGS. 12 and 13, utilizes aY-shaped slide lock 80 slidably mounted on reinforcement support 19 ofthe hanger body and flared outwardly to engage the horizontal portion 34of clamping members 36A, 38A. In the clamped state, lock 80 is slidupwardly along reinforcement support 19 such that depression 82 engagesupper body section 13. The horizontal section 34 of 36A, 38A wouldsecurely snap into place within the lock's cradle 84.

A number of embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove. Nonetheless, it is understood and recognized that variousmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, other embodiments may be within the scope ofthe following claims. It is intended that all matter contained in theabove description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is alsounderstood that the following claims are intended to cover all genericand specific features of the invention described herein and allstatements of the scope of the invention, express or implied.

1. An article suspension apparatus comprising: (a) a clamp comprised ofa first clamping member and a second clamping member wherein said firstand second members are operatively coupled and movable relative to oneanother between an open position and a substantially closed position;(b) biasing means connected to said first and second members forexerting a force sufficient to bias said the terminal ends of said firstand second members toward the substantially closed position; (c) ahanger body, coupled to at least one of the clamping members, wherein anarticle separator, is comprised from a portion of the hanger body andcapable of supporting suspended articles.
 2. The apparatus in claim 1,further comprising a pair of handles connected to said first and secondouter members whereby inwardly exerted force will overcome said biascausing first and second clamping members to move apart relative to oneanother whereby said clamp opens.
 3. The apparatus in claim 1, furthercomprising a cushion covering the terminal ends of said first and secondmember.
 4. The apparatus in claim 1, wherein the terminal ends of saidfirst and second member are constructed of a material of lesser hardnessrelative to the clamping surface under force of said bias.
 5. Theapparatus in claim 1, further comprising an eyelet coupled to saidhanger body wherein a portion of said clamp passes through said eyelet,said eyelet and the hanger body being rotatable about a central axiswith respect to said clamp.
 6. The apparatus in claim 1, furthercomprising an eyelet coupled to said hanger body wherein a portion ofsaid clamp and portion of said handles pass through said eyelet with theeyelet and transverse element being rotatable about a central axis withrespect to said clamp.
 7. The apparatus in claim 1, wherein saidtransverse member is shaped to define at least one aperture.
 8. Theapparatus in claim 1, wherein said article separator is nonlinear. 9.The apparatus in claim 8, wherein said nonlinear article separator isrippled.
 10. The apparatus in claim 8, wherein said nonlinear articleseparator is crimped.
 11. The apparatus in claim in claim 1, furthercomprising a material strip coupled to said article separator, saidstrip shaped to define at least one aperture.
 12. The apparatus in claim6, further comprising a material strip coupled to said articleseparator, said strip shaped to define at least one aperture.
 13. Theapparatus in claim 6, wherein said article separator is non linear. 14.The apparatus in claim 13, wherein said article separator is rippled.15. The apparatus in claim 13, wherein said article separator iscrimped.
 16. An article suspension apparatus comprising: (a) a clampcomprised of a first clamping member and a second clamping memberwherein said first and second members move between an open position anda substantially closed position; (b) biasing means connected to saidfirst and second members for exerting a force sufficient to bias saidthe terminal ends of said first and second members toward thesubstantially closed position; (c) at least one hanger body, coupled toa second clamping members, wherein an article separator, is comprisedfrom a portion of the hanger body and capable of supporting suspendedarticles, wherein said first clamping member is fixed to said hangerbody and said second member is hingably coupled to said hanger body. 17.The apparatus in claim 2, further comprising a spring lock mounted onsaid hanger body said spring lock comprising a tube, a spring disposedwithin said tube, a pair of outer a cylindrical fittings mounted ateither end of said tube, the outer ends of said tube being disposedwithin the innermost end of said cylindrical fittings wherein theoutermost ends of said fittings are shaped to define notches throughwhich pass a portion of said outer clamping member and inner clampingmember extending horizontally, wherein said spring outwardly biases saidfittings and causes said notches to reversibly engage with said clampingmembers and wherein inwardly directed force applied to said fittingsovercomes said bias and causes said notches to disengage.
 18. Theapparatus in claim 2, further comprising a plurality of wheel lockswherein said wheel locks are defined as having a concave channel, saidwheel locks rotatably mounted on said hanger body wherein manual forceis applied to outwardly rotate one lock and said concave channel engagessaid first clamping members, and manual force is applied to outwardlyrotate another lock and said concave channel engages said secondclamping member.
 19. The apparatus in claim 2, further comprising aplurality of thumb wheels, the surface of said wheels having a raisedsurface, said wheels mounted on said hanger body, said innermost portionof said wheels making contact with a spring said spring exerting outwardbias, wherein said raised surface of one outwardly biased wheel makingcontact with said first clamping member and said raised surface ofanother outwardly biased wheel making contact with said second clampingmember the raised surface whereby outward rotation of said clampingmembers is prevented.
 20. The apparatus in claim 2, further comprising aplurality of Y-shaped locks slidably mounted on said hanger body whereinsaid locks are shaped to define a depression that engages a portion ofsaid hanger body and a cradle that engages a portion of said clampingmembers.
 21. (a) a clamp comprised of a first clamping member and asecond clamping member wherein said first and second members arehingably coupled and movable relative to one another between an openposition and a substantially closed position; (b) a spring connected tosaid first and second members for exerting a force sufficient to biassaid the terminal ends of said first and second members toward thesubstantially closed position; (c) a hanger body, coupled to at leastone of the clamping members, (d) an article separator comprised from aportion of the hanger body and capable of supporting suspended articles.